Internal tube seal and connector



Jan. 26, 1965 o. MAlscH 3,167,335

INTERNAL TUBE SEAL AND CONNECTOR Filed sept. 18, 1961 @gif .5.'

3,167,335 INTERNAL TUBE SEAL AND CONNECTOR Oliver Malsch, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Tuth1ll Pump Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofIlhnors Filed Sept. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 138,727 2 Claims. (Cl. 285-317)This invention relates to a tube seal and connector for temporaryassociation with the ends of a tube for pressure testing of tubes andweldments in tubular assemblies.

When condensers, evaporators, heat exchangers, or other types of tubularunits have been completely assembled, or at intermediate stages ofmanufacture, it is common practice to temporarily seal the ends of thetubes so that relatively high testing pressures may be applied to thetubes to make sure that leaks have not developed therein. The pressuresused for testing purposes are relatively high, and it is, therefore,necessary that the testing device or connector be anchored on the endportion of the tube and that means be provided in the connector fordeveloping a seal that is sufficiently tight to withstand the highpressure that is to be applied.

In my prior Patent No. 2,819,733, patented January 14, 1958, a tube sealand connector is disclosed that is highly eflicient in most of thesituations encountered in the sealing and testing of tubes, but in theuse of the tube seal and connector of my aforesaid prior patent, it isnecessary that a substantial length of the end portion of the tube beexposed so that the tube may extend for a considerable distance into thebody of the connector. It has been found, however, that in certaininstances the length of the exposed end portion of the tube isinsufficient and tubes are spaced on centers too close for use of theend seal provided in my aforesaid patent.

A particularly troublesome situation is encountered in f heat exchangerswhere the ends of the tubes of the heat exchangers are projected throughan outer wall of the heat exchanger on close centers. In such situationsthe tube Vis often expanded or offset on the outer side of the wall toprovide what amounts to a connector cuprthat is to be used in subsequentmanufacturing operations for connecting the` heat exchanger in therefrigerating system. This expanded or offset portion of the tube isrelatively short, being in most instances of a length equal to about 1%to 11/2 times the diameter of the expanded portion, and the internaldiameter of the expanded or offset portion is usually equal to thenormal outer diameter of the tube so that a tube end made from the sameoriginal diameter of tube may be inserted into the socket or cup forassociation therewith in the usual manner.

Where the exposed length of the tube is so extremely short, the tube endcannot be extended into the inside of a tube seal and connector of thekind shown in my aforesaid patent, and it is therefore the primaryobject of the present invention to provide a tube seal and connectorthat may be utilized efliciently in situations where but a short lengthof the tube end is exposed, and a further important object is to providea tube seal and connector that may be used on adjacent tubes located oncenters too close for use of end seals previously used.

Another and related object of this invention is to provide a tube sealand connector where highly efficient anchoring means cooperate with theexposed tube end, while sealing means of the O ring type cooperate withinternal surfaces of the tube to produce the desired seal, and an objectrelated to the foregoing is to provide such a device that is simple inform and structure, which may be made economically, and in which thenumber of moving parts is minimized.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims, and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which,

United States Patent ICC by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof, andwhat is now considered to be the best mode in Which to apply theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube seal and connector embodying thefeatures of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device in its sealingposition on an offset tube that is to be sealed;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2 showing the device as itis beingmoved into position on a tube;

FIG. 4 is a front end view of the device;

FIG. 5 is a rear end view of a pair of the devices in place on a pair ofclosely spaced tube ends; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative construction.

The invention is disclosed herein in FIGS. 1 to 5 as embodied in a tubeseal and connector 10 ythat is simple in form and construction and whichmay be used in situations where extremely high testing pressures arecontemplated. The tube seal and connector -10 is adapted particularlyfor cooperation with a commonly encountered type of tube end wherein arelatively shortexpanded end E of a tube T is exposed on one face of awall W through which the tube T extends, but it is to be notedY that thedevice of this invention also finds utility in many instances where theexposed tube end is of normal diameter, or in other words, has not beenolfset or expanded, as in FIG. 6. The end E of the tube T is customarilyexpanded or offset in a radial direction so that the internal diameterof the extended end E is substantially equal to or just slightly greaterthan the outer diameter of the tube T. The tube seal and Vconnector 10of this invention is arranged to take advantage of the form of the end Eand the shoulder S that connects the end E with the normal diameterportion of the tube T to simplify the mounting of the unitlt) on thetube in the desired sealing relation. The extended offset end E isnormally quite short, in the order of 11A to 11/2 times the diameter ofthe tube, and the connector 10 of the present u invention isparticularly suited for cooperation with tubes having such relativelyshort exposed ends that have been expanded or offset in the generalmanner shown in the drawings, and in those instances where the tubes arelocated on close centers.

The tube seal and connector 10 has an elongated body "Y" 12 having asealing pilot 14 extending from one end thereof, and as will bedescribed, the sealing pilot 14 is adapted to be inserted endwise into atube T for sealing cooperation with inside surfaces of the tube While xlocking or anchoring means 16 carried on the body 12 engage outersurfaces of the expanded end E of the tube to lock the device in itsoperative sealing position on the tube. The body 12 and the sealingpilot 14 are shown as being separately formed parts which may beeconomically formed, but in the finally assembled product l A the body12 and the sealing pilot 14 are permanently fixed together as will bedescribed.

The pilot 14 is formed as an elongated thick-walled tube having an axialpassage 114 therethrough, and the y tube has sections of successivelyreduced outer diameter i tube T that is to-be sealed,

Y 3 A y l portion 14C having a diameter such that Vit will'slide snuglyyet yeasily intothe enlarged endfEoffthe tube T.

To the' left of the filler portion 14C,` the pilot 14 is fur-Vl i therreduced tof form a sealing end portion' 14D thatrhas an outer diameterjlessY thanr the diameterof the tubeT` and sorelated to the diameter ofthe tube T that anf 4r4t2# y VWhen-the Connector 1t) is, to be put inpositionon the endv of-l a1 tube T,l the handle 15H'4 of theanchoringimeans Y. is pressed towardrthe body 12 to the relation shownin FIG. 3. The left orprojecting end ofthe pilot 14'is then insertedinto the enlarged `end E of the tube T,'and although the O ringZillprojects radially beyond the portion .ring 20 may be mountedaccording tousualxstandardsp in an vO ring groove 21 formed in thesealing end porvf tion 14D. The end of the sealing portion 14D isVtapered or rounded as '14E tofacilitateentry o'f the'pilot into la14D,`there is stilly s uiiicient clearance tovenable rthe 'O` ring 20 topass ,the end edge ofthe tube withoutcutting The body 12 is made frombar stock of the Ydesired Y cross section cut to theproperlengthV andhaving yan axial bore 24 formed therethrough to' receive thepilot-14VasV will be described, and at its right'rhand'end the vbor-e 24 isinternally' threaded' as at*V 24T `to receive either a conventionalpressure connection, Aor, a-.closure'zplug 25,?! asVV Yj indicated .indotted outline in'FIG. 2'." Vln the Vpresent or damaging'theb ring. Infurtherinward or left hand movement of the device, the O ring engagesthe sloping shoulders of the tube so that the 'O ring 20rolls freelyand'k withouti ldamage `into, the .normal `diameter portion ofY thetube, 'where ittcomestorest in gthe' position' shown in FIG. 2.`VDuringlsuch mountingmoyement, they ring 16K moves 'intoan encirclingrelation' with respect to the oflset or'enlargedzendportion E ofthetube,- while the instance stock'from'which the bodyf12'1is made isofrecil tangularl cross section softha't twofplug sealsr and con-f nectors12 may be used onclosel'y spaced tubes T, as indi'catedfin FIG.' 5. Theanchoring means 16 vare-of'V course, carried on theother or'left handend o'fthe body'v 1-2, and. to provide for'fsuch mounting,`,the lefthand end of the body 12 has a slot 26 formed therein transversely of thebore24in an up anddown,relation,`andy a trans- L verse' slot 26T 'isvformed'which intersects' the slot 265 Moreover', the left' endofg'thebodyglZ is counterboredx at 27' to a diametersubstantiallygreaterz than the` diam-' eter of the end E of the tube'I-`. 1 Thustheslots 26 and land 4,'and thesek lugs function inthemountingjand. guiding-of the anchoring means 16, 'f as will bedescribed."

It should. lbe noted that the bore'24 has a diameter Somewhaty greaterthan the outer diameter ofithe Vend E," of the tube top provideclearance for the tubeTeasjthe': device 10 is put in place onl thejtube,as shown in FIG. 2.".

The'anchoring or'clamping means 16 `comprises a ring 16Rdisposed'withinand movable freely inthe counte'rf` bore 27i and having alowerxlug 161. extended down` tiller, portion 14C 'of the: pilot'14enters the enlarged Vend E with- 4a snugft that isfimportant Vinassuring that the anchoring` means 16'v` will notdistor't -orobjectionably bend itheenlarged end'E. Thehandle'loI-I of the/device isthenreleasedi'so that a preliminary Wed'ging ory anchoring'acti'onpisattained byreleaisingvlolY the anchoringmermber. toward the positionshown inFIG. 2. Then, when pressure is yappliedwithinth'e .tube T,either through the connecting opening 24T, or throughy aconnectionto theotheren'dl ofthe tube, theY pilotpv14- andfthe'body 12 are urgedfasvaunit' in 'Ya righthand direction to produce an increased anchor-ingaction withespect to the tube end E. The device' 110 `is`-thus .held'rinly in position on thev expanded tub'e eiidE, and' thedesiredfsealing action is attained' withinjth'e normal diameter portionof the tube T throughfthe'action of the o ring 20. v

They foregoing descriptionis directedV specifically to the use. ofAtheprese'nt' yconnector withy exp-anded `or'offset tubes, but ritY isYimportant to `note`that it' may' be used with plain'fend `tubes ifvthe.application is such that the l tube .ends may'be/'chamfer'ed'Av-toavoid damageV tothe O rings aslfthe connector isV put fin' position..For such wardly into the lowerjportion ofthe slot 2 6 between the twolower lugs 26L. The lugr 26L is pivoted withloose t'on a pin 16Pextended acro'ssthe lower portion ofY the slot Y26 and through the twolower lugs 26T...V The ring"- 16R also has, an upper lug 11 6Lprojecting vupwardly between and slightly beyond ythe two upper lugs26L, and

a handle portion 16H rigid with'the'lug 116L is extended yto the rightlin spaced relation to the upper surface of the' body. 12. .A spring 28,.having its; opposite ends disp-1V posed in sockets v28S'in the lugv11"'6L'y and the bottom. ofV the slot 26, actsl to urge the anchoringmeans 16 to itsV operative or locking position of FIG; 2,' as will Vbeexplained. Theinner edge of thegring 16Rv'is formed With} relativelysharp edges. for biting contact-with the ftube" endE in thevclarnpingoperation. These sharp edges are provided by'a tapered surface 1'6T1anda bore 16B formed in .the ring 16R, and because of thisl a taperedsurface` 'fuse the form 'of the? pilot 14v is Vmodified somewhat, as

shown in FIG. 6, lso that theftiller-portion 14C .of the pilot 1-4 isofafs'inaller diameter which willrt into' the meer."` '1 ,Y f

VFrom the yforegoing' descriptin,it,r will be apparent that the*presenti invention provides ia new and' improved tube Vsealand"eonne'ctor that isI extremely simple/and economical in structureandpwhichisadapted for quick,

. easy, andeicient cooper-ation with plain end tubes or.

- `withthe Aexpanded orfoff'set tube ends." Moreover, it-

wil-lbe evident that thevk device that isthus provided isy"particul'arly vuseful' where tube endsI are relatively short y lengthsand where tubes'onclosely'spaced centers are to 16T is alforded to guidethe end of a tube `.through theV bore 176B of the ring 16R.1 The bore16Bris of aldia'meter just slightly greater than the tube on whichitisrtoV be locked. Y Y Y i b ,l

After thebody 12 and the Vpilot 14 have been formed as'above described,and eitherbefore or after the mounting oftheranchoring means:y 16 on thebody, the pilot 14 is inserted endwise into thebore 24, and forcedendwise" in the bore 24 to the desired relation: and with the portion.14A of thepilot14 in a gas-tight press t relationship in f the bore 24.VThis xes the pilot 14-inits naland pert marient relation.y to vthe body12.. f To minimize-the width Yofthe connector 10 the widthz of the barVstock' from which the body. 12 isformedjs chosen as being equal to theouter diameter of the ringV 16R, FIG. 4, and to reducethe weight of thedevice, the f portion of the bar stock to the right vof the springsocket 28S may be turned tocyIindricatform as at 12C.A Y b f I claimt, v`1.'v In aqhigh b Y -ciationvwith Aa--relatively short projecting endofY ametal have connectors associ-ated therewith.

' `This application Ydiscloses 'the improvement' over the Vscope of theAappendingclaims.

pressure tube seal'vand: connectorr for assiotube, .ane'longated ,body`having a` longitudinal' opening therethroughwith acounterbore at one endofthe body substantiallyV largerithan the tube end with which theyconnector is to be associated andv into which ycounterborel such a tubeend may extend, saidbody having an annularly,continuous-"wall defining;a portionv of lsaid opening located adjacent said counterbore, an.anchor-A mg r1ngvd1sposed in. said counterbore andl pivoted at one edgeonthe'bodyrufor. shifting movement from 1a mounting` positionperpendicular to the counterboreaxis to an angular clamping position,spring means reacting between said body and said ring normally to urgesaid ring toward its clamping position, an elongated pilot structurehaving a lengthwise throughbore, said pilot structure being disposedwithin said opening in 4an axially xed and peripherally sealedrelationship with said body by means of a permanent force tit betweensaid pilot structure and said continuous annular wall, said pilotstructure having a ller portion projecting outwardly through saidcounterbore and said ring and extending beyond said body, said llerportion having outwardly facing peripheral shoulder correspond-ing insize to said tube end, said filler portion terminating in a reduced endportion equipped with an O ring seal such that when said pilot structureis inserted into an end portion of such a tube, said shoulder engages anend edge of the tube, said anchoring ring encircles said end portion,said ller portion lls the end portion of the tube to react radiallyaga-inst the anchoring ring and prevent distortion of such end portionby the anchoring ring, and said reduced end portion extends inwardly inperipheral clearance relation within the tube with the O ring seal onsaid reduced end portion having sealing cooper-ation internally with thetube, with said connector upon being supplied internally wit-h fluidunder pressure developing unitary endwise movement of said body and saidpilot structure in a direction away from said tube to re-inforceengagement of said anchoring ring on said tube end portion.

2. An arrangement as recited in claim 1 and wherein said body has anelongated rectangular head region in which said counterbore is located,said head region having a Width corresponding to the diameter of saidanchoring ring, and said body having its remaining portion ofcylindrical `form and of a diameter less than the width of said headregion whereby such connectors are concurrently applicable upon closelyspaced side-by-side mounted tube ends.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,819,733 1/58Maisch 285--317 2,877,027 3/59 Bagnell 285-243 3,124,375 3/64 Maiscll285-347 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A HIGH PRESSURE TUBE SEAL AND CONNECTOR FOR ASSOCIATION WITH ARELATIVELY SHORT PROJECTING END OF A METAL TUBE, AN ELONGATED BODYHAVING A LONGITUDINAL OPENING THERETHROUGH WITH A COUNTERBORE AT ONE ENDOF THE BODY SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN THE TUBE END WITH WHICH THECONNECTOR IS TO BE ASSOCIATED AND INTO WHICH COUNTERBORE SUCH A TUBE ENDMAY EXTEND, SAID BODY HAVING AN ANNULAR CONTINUOUS WALL DEFINING APORTION OF SAID OPENING LOCATED ADJACENT SAID COUNTERBORE, AN ANCHORINGRING DISPOSED IN SAID COUNTERBORE AND PIVOTED AT ONE EDGE ON THE BODYFOR SHIFTING MOVEMENT FROM A MOUNTING POSITION PERPENDICULAR TO THECOUNTERBORE AXIS TO AN ANGULAR CLAMPING POSITION, SPRING MEANS REACTINGBETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID RING NORMALLY TO URGE SAID RING TOWARD ITSCLAMPING POSITION, AN ELONGATED PILOT STRUCTURE HAVING A LENGTHWISETHROUGHBORE, SAID PILOT STRUCTURE BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OPENING INAN AXIALLY FIXED AND PERIPHERALLY SEALED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID BODY BYMEANS OF A PERMANENT FORCE FIT BETWEEN SAID PILOT STRUCTURE AND SAIDCONTINUOUS ANNULAR WALL, SAID PILOT STRUCTURE HAVING A FILLER PORTIONPROJECTING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID COUNTERBORE AND SAID RING ANDEXTENDING BEYOND SAID BODY, SAID FILLER PORTION HAVING OUTWARDLY